Canada Border Services Agency workers at the Blue Water Bridge during the first day of a work-to-rule campaign.  6 August 2021.  (BlackburnNews.com file photo)Canada Border Services Agency workers at the Blue Water Bridge during the first day of a work-to-rule campaign. 6 August 2021. (BlackburnNews.com file photo)
Sarnia

Job action leads to lengthy delays at Blue Water Bridge

Commercial traffic entering Canada at the Blue Water Bridge had longer than normal wait times Friday, on day one of job action by workers at the Canada Border Services Agency.

Over 8,500 employees, members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and Customs and Immigration Union (CIU), launched work-to-rule job action at 6 a.m. at border crossings and airports across the country.

Callers to Blackburn News indicated they were waiting about five hours to cross into Canada, and police shut down the Pine Grove Avenue entrance ramp to ease congestion.

Employees are only doing essential work, including safety and security.

Talks between the union and federal government are ongoing.

CBSA employees have been without a contract since June 2018.

The unions have cited workplace morale and parity with other law enforcement agencies as key sticking points.

Read More Local Stories

File photo courtesy of  © Can Stock Photo Inc. / dehooks

Scoreboard, August 1

The Jays opened their home series against the Cardinals with a win off another Dylan Cease gem.

Grand Bend Beach June 25, 2020 Image courtesy of Grand Bend Pier Beach Cam.

Youth volunteers practice coastal conservation

Nine young volunteers aged 11 to 17 spent three days exploring and protecting the Lake Huron coastline during the Coastal Conservation Youth Corps' inaugural program in Grand Bend from July 21 to 23.